Weeklong Spring Cleanup Begins in Downtown Ventura

More than 80 public works crew members are steam-cleaning sidewalks, trimming trees and clearing out tree wells in downtown Ventura in preparation for the annual tourist season.

The workers began sprucing up the streets Monday, the beginning of the city’s weeklong spring cleaning effort to lure more visitors to the area.

“This is mainly to let the merchants know we’re not just doing California and Main streets,” said Lyle Swaney, the city’s streets superintendent, referring to a $3.5-million renovation under way along those streets.

“We’re doing the entire downtown, cleaning up streets, parking lots, painting curbs and new center lines,” he said. “This is an extra effort this year, but we’re going to continue it through upcoming years.”

The weeklong cleanup targets the commercial core of the city--from the beach to City Hall and from Ash Street to Ventura Avenue.

Workers are scheduled to patch up potholes, steam-clean 150,000 square feet of the beachfront promenade and sidewalks, clean and patch 12 city parking lots and paint benches, traffic signals and trash cans not scheduled for replacement.

The operation will complement the four-month renovation along California and Main streets, which is scheduled to be completed in July, Swaney said.